Niger Govt to develop framework on school feeding programme in the state

The Niger state government in collaboration with the office of the Vice President, is to hold a stakeholders meeting aimed at developing a framework on the home grown school feeding programme to identify ways, gaps and challenges on the targeted beneficiaries.

The focal person of the Social Investment Programme in the state, Hon. Afiniki Dada who is also the Senior Special Adviser (SSA) to the governor on empowerment and social protection disclosed this in in Minna at the weekend while briefing newsmen on the preparation for the former take off of the programme in the state.

She said the Home Grown School Feeding (HGSF) is targeting all the public primary schools in the state pointing out that the food would be sourced food locally and prepared hygienically for the future students.

According to her, the need for the stakeholders meeting is also to develop a template for the programme for operational guide as well as review situation analysis to bridge the gap between policy and implementation of the school feeding programme.

Hon. Afiniki said the two day workshop which is slated for Tuesday to be declared open by the state Governor Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, adding that “we will deliberate with our stakeholders in all sectors on the School Feeding Programme (SFP), define roles and responsibilities for collaboration.

The focal person assured that the state will adhere strictly to the defined national guidelines that must be complied by any interested individual in other to achieve a technical assistance plan and programme implementation model.

She disclosed further that other importance of the programme is that, it will provide employment opportunities to un-employed women that will serve as vendors that will prepare the foods for the students in nursery and primary schools.
“Since the inception of the social investment programs in the state, Niger state performed creditably well and was ranked among the best five out of 37 states in the implementation of N-power programme.

We therefore hope to surpass the subsequent ones, like the home grown school feeding and conditional cash transfer programme.”

On the ongoing posting exercise of the successful N-power programme Hon. Afinikisaid the stakeholder have resolved to consider reposting of both married and single ladies.